APCEL-IPCC Special Report on Cities and Climate Change Law Expert Review Meeting

On 29 October 2025, the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (APCEL) collaborated with IPCC Cities to convene a Law Expert Review Group focused on the First Order Draft of the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities. This initiative brought together 20 distinguished legal experts from across the globe—including Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America—to provide critical insights and feedback.

The meeting was moderated by APCEL’s Dr. Justine Muller and organized by APCEL’s Yang Huiwen and Dr. Linda Yanti Sulistiawati. Experts invited to the session included Prof. Katrina Wyman (NYU), Dr. Beatriz Garcia (SUAD), Atty. Golly Ramos, Prof. Helmut Aust (Freie Universität Berlin), Atty. Rahul Choudhary, Prof. Oliver Fuo (NWU South Africa), among others.

The group engaged in in-depth discussions on key themes such as equity and justice, climate litigation, loss and damage, risk management, and multilevel governance—all central to the evolving legal dimensions of climate change in urban contexts.

This expert review represents a vital step in strengthening the quality and relevance of the IPCC Special Report. The diverse perspectives and legal expertise shared during the session will enrich the draft and serve as valuable input for the IPCC authors. These contributions will be acknowledged in the development of the Second Order Draft, helping to ensure that the report reflects a robust, inclusive, and globally informed legal framework for addressing climate change in cities. APCEL is pleased to be working with the IPCC on this important review and hopes that this contribution will prove useful in shaping a comprehensive and impactful Special Report.